The World Potato Congress Inc. is pleased to inform you that the resolution on the International Day of the Potato has been adopted by consensus of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week.
It has been a passionate endeavor by the World Potato Congress Board of Directors and International Advisors. This initiative was seen through to fruition with great effort by WPC Director André Devaux and Romain Cools (previous WPC President), who have interacted and coordinated over the last few years on behalf of WPC with FAO, and the Ministries of Agriculture (MIDAGRI), and Foreign Affairs of Peru. The first event will be held May 30, 2024 and will be an annual celebration on this date.
In the press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Government of Peru states “The potato plays a fundamental role for global food security and nutrition, as well as for income generation, and the need for small-scale farmers and value chain actors to have sustainable practices to ensure environmental protection and social equity.”
It is important to note that, since June 2022, through its Diplomatic Missions abroad, Peru began the actions, presenting within the framework of the 11th World Potato Congress (Dublin – Ireland), the proposal for the establishment of an International Potato Day. Subsequently, between July 2022 and 2023, this initiative was managed in Rome – Italy, within the framework of the various bodies of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to finally be approved by consensus in the General Assembly of the United Nations.”
For more information:
World Potato Congress Inc.
P.O. Box 40020, West Royalty PO
Charlottetown, PE
Canada C1E 0J2
Email: [email protected]